New to snowmobiles - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

jkcpescatore · 07-19-2006, 12:11 AM

I live in Arizona and just purchased some snowmobiles from a friend who was unloading some of his toys. They are both 1995 Yamaha's. One is a Vmax 600 DX and the other is a Phazer II ST. They are both jetted for high altitude and they start right up. They're housed at 6,500 feet at my in-laws cabin. Hopefully we'll start having some good winters and use them a bunch. If not, I'll trailer them to Colorado or Utah. I'm just curious how people do their summer storage of their snowmobiles. They will be stored outdoors on the trailer and I have snowmobile covers on them and then I also covered them with a tarp. I siphoned the tank on the Vmax and it was easy to drain the carbs on it. I just ran the carbs dry in the Phazer because the drains are harder to get too. I'm just curious if there are other websites such as this forum to have questions answered if you run into any problems or are there Yamaha specific sites for general maintenance. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

I_R_Josh · 07-19-2006, 03:07 AM

Welcome to the forums! I'm assuming it is fairly uncommon for people that live in arizona to buy snowmobiles? Just doesn't seem like a snow-rich state

Anyway I'm not real good at the mechanical stuff so I'll leave that to some of our resident mechs. They're awesome.

SnowRida · 07-19-2006, 04:23 AM

Running the gas out is good. Maybe you should consider giving the carbs a good cleaning before the season starts. Wouldn't hurt. You have some reliable sleds there, and good luck. Plenty of help on this site.

**smallengineguy** · 07-19-2006, 06:15 AM

Welcome! There are a TON of other sites dedicated to snowmobiling, including a Yamaha one. I'm sure you'll love the sport!

IndianRvrShiver · 07-19-2006, 07:00 AM

Welcome to SF.com!!

ITriumph · 07-19-2006, 12:03 PM

If storing them outside, I would take some steelwool and put it just inside the exaust so that mice, and other small varments can't start building a nest in your mufflers. I also put some in the inlet on the airboxes. If your not ganno be running them throughout the summer I would suggest dumping about a cap full of oil down each of the cylinders,a nd pull them over slowly a couple of times. This will keep your cylinders lubed up. Good luck, and welcome tot he forums

jkcpescatore · 07-19-2006, 07:56 PM

Thanks for all of your input. I especially like the steel wool idea for the exhaust and air intake and a little bit of oil for the cylinders.

BRPforlife · 07-19-2006, 08:19 PM

Plugging your intake/exhaust is a great idea if you're storing them outside. I would definately fog the motors so if any moisture gets inside they wont rust up. Since you've already drained the gas just spray some fogging oil in the plug holes and pull it over a couple of times. Good luck!

**smallengineguy** · 07-19-2006, 09:52 PM

Also putting mothballs inside the engine compartment keeps the critters out.

BC_Dan · 07-20-2006, 12:32 AM

It never hurts to grease all the grease fittings on the front suspension and on the back suspension... if it was not greased at end of season, there could be moisture inside that will be driven off by the grease, preventing rust. Removing the belt helps keep it from getting a "set"... and propping the back of the sled up a bit to keep the weight off the rear suspension will help save your springs... even better if you can get the weight off the front as well.

skidoo_magoo · 07-20-2006, 03:37 PM

yeah, if you dont run gas out sta-bil is good to use. and as stated, clean carbs/grease fitting before season starts, always good to do!

mysunnshine · 07-23-2006, 09:46 AM

Damn...How did I miss those sleds for sale... Anyhoo, you need to really do your best to keep those sleds covered and the tracks off the trailer. I too live in AZ and the heat will self-destruct those things. You need to grease/lube everything that you can and release the tension on the track. How long has it been since they have ran last? If it's been more than 2 months, just plan on going thru the carbs. The fuel out here is crap and has already evaporated in the bowls.

jkcpescatore · 07-23-2006, 06:57 PM

I just ran them a few weeks ago and I always put stabil in the gas. I warmed both of them up, siphoned the gas out of the tank and drained the carbs for summer storage. They are both covered with snowmobile covers and then I have a tarp over the trailer. I don't store them in the valley, they are up north. So they don't have as extreme heat as the valley. Why do I need to get the tracks off of the trailer? What is wrong with them just sitting on the trailer? Just wondering.

**smallengineguy** · 07-23-2006, 07:36 PM

The suspension stays compressed and it can weaken the springs over time.

brown435 · 07-24-2006, 01:27 AM

Welcome to the forum. The other reason you lift the tracks up is the weight of the sled warps the lugs, the little fingers off the track get bent out of shape. They make a stand to raise them or you could use a home made stand and raise them where the bracket for the wheels just under the seat.

mysunnshine · 07-24-2006, 08:12 AM

So where up north are you going to be riding? I do most of mine at Mormon Lake...